Looking at the Big Picture

Tackle It Tuesday is all about the To Do List!

As the creator of ListPlanIt.com, I know a thing or two about lists. I know that without an actual list, goals, projects, and deadlines might possibly be pointless. I’ve encountered the challenges of trying to get things done without setting goals or listing ingredients or plotting the steps. I’ve learned that with just a few minutes with my lists or notebook or smartphone or my computer, I can save myself a lot of time and frustration in the future. All it usually takes is a spare moment in the car (as a passenger or while waiting for a child to come out of school) or a few minutes before turning out the light for sleep to create a list (or two) that will guide me and help me prioritize my time.

In order to create an effective To Do List, you must first look at the big picture. Whether that means looking ahead a week, a month, a year, 5 years, or even a lifetime, always consider the things that mean the most to you and to your family. To figure that out, here is a list of questions that will help you in your quest for the big picture.

Which tasks are priority?
What actions will help you make your deadline(s) or give you the most satisfaction? These should be at the top of the list and completed first.

Which decisions or goals require steps to completion?
What may require a series of tasks or actions in order to minimize the effort and time involved? Schedule out these tasks or devote a certain day of the week as a mental reminder. Few tasks can be done in one sitting. For everything else, a progressive schedule should be determined.

What is on your To Do List that is not in line with the big picture?
Sometimes this is the difficult part. It is not as though moms want to add more than we can handle to our To Do List. This usually occurs when we are more willing to overextend ourselves than to simply say no. Turning people and projects down requires resolve and lots of practice.

ListPlanIt has created an exclusive page just for readers at Tackle It Tuesday.

[…] Part Tackle Series with Jennifer Tankersley, founder of ListPlanIt.com.Last week Jennifer helped us Look at the Big Picture in Part 1 of this series. Today, Jennifer shows us how to get the most out of planning a Tackle and […]

[…] access a downloadable page, or click on the image below.Catch up on the last 2 week’s tips at Tackle It Tuesday – Looking at the Big Picture and Planning Your Tackle.Thank you to Janice and Susan for allowing me to be a guest on 5 Minutes […]